Eyes Wide Open

Chapter 1: Coming out of the dark

Waking up and going to sleep are always the weirdest parts of the day. I'm never quite so sure when my day should begin or end. Thankfully, the cyborgs were all built in with curfews and wake up times. Some say it's restricting. Others say it's what we need.

I was lying in bed with my eyes open, waiting for Sue, our Cy, to knock on the door as a part of her routine. It was all repetitive. First she'd knock on my door to make sure I was awake. Next, she'd go downstairs and prepare breakfast. Even though she always cooked the same thing, the aroma was always enticing. She would always tell me that what she cooked was a traditional meal: eggs, bacon, pancakes, and toast. The thought of the warm, melting feeling of the syrup and pancakes in my mouth just makes my mouth water. Anyways, after Sue finishes breakfast, she brings me my earpiece (another piece of technology the Governors give us) so that I can listen to news, voicemails, audiobooks, and have my emails read to me.

As much as I expected my day to start off in its usual way, I was quickly shown differently.

Sue knocked on the door, her built in matron voice calling out sternly to wake me up. "Get up Xane. Time to get the day started."

"I'm up, I'm up," I said in a stereotypical annoyed teenage boy tone. Grinning, I sat up as I listened to her walked down the hallway, her heavy metal footsteps fading away. I scratched my head, feeling the tips of my hair scratch my nose. I sighed. It's always bothered me that I don't know what I looked like. Just to catch a glimpse of my own smile would make my heart skip a beat.

I stood up and shuffled my way to my bathroom that was attached to my small bedroom. I felt for the faucet and turn on the water to wash my face. Cupping my hands under the cold water, I quickly splashed my face. But, cold water wasn't what I felt.

I remember the feeling of my dad slapping me for saying the "s" word (seeing) out in public. It was a burning, stinging feeling that lingered all day. Well, that's what the water felt like as it hit my face. Instead of the cool, prickly feeling of cold water, I felt as if I had been slapped by a few burning irons. I screamed in agony, holding my face and staggering backwards. The floor met my back with a loud THUD! I rolled over, still holding my face and screaming. Suddenly, I heard Sue come running into the room.

"What's going on?!" she yelled, sounding more panicked than concerned. I'm guessing she saw me rolling because she picked me up by my collar and I felt the sharp pinch of a syringe entering my neck. Sue gently set me on the floor. I rubbed my eyes, feeling the burning sensation fade away. I blinked a few times just for an added measure and looked up. Looked. I saw Sue standing above me and held my breath. I'd finally come out of the dark..